Where Are They Now? Former Dancer Kristen Purnell Makes NFL Debut

Sep 30, 2008

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Northern Arizona
University has a long history of student-athletes advancing to
careers in the National Football League both as players and
coaches. But on September 7 at the University of Phoenix Stadium,
former NAU dancer Kristen Purnell recorded a first with her
appearance as a member of the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders
squad.

Purnell, a native of Aspen, Colo., was a member of the NAU dance
team for three years, serving as the coach of the team for the
final two seasons. She led the team to a fourth-place finish at the
2008 Universal Dance Association College Dance Team National
Championships at Walt Disney World in the Division I Hip Hop
category. The team competed against 24 other Division I schools,
making the top 11 teams by advancing to finals. The fourth-place
finish was the best performance by the squad in school history
after placing fifth in 2007.

“I loved being able to be at all the sporting events and
games and supporting NAU athletics,” said Purnell of her time
in Flagstaff. “I think that was a big part about being on the
dance team. The support we got back from the other athletes was
really important. The fact they supported us when we went to our
competition and wished us well was really exciting.”

Prior to NAU, she had over 11 years of training in ballet and jazz
with the Aspen (Colorado) Ballet Company and School and she had
also studied jazz, hip hop and lyrical dance at the Aspen Dance
Progression where she was also a dance teacher for three years. She
has continued as a guest teacher and choreographer. After
graduating in May with honors from NAU with a dual degree in
advertising and public relations and a minor in sociology, Purnell
wanted to continue her dancing career.

“I knew after college I wanted to go out for a professional
team,” said Purnell. “The Cardinals have a great
reputation and are a good team.”

She advanced through a week-long tryout process in April that
started with more than 150 girls vying for one of 28 spots on the
team. Surviving rounds of cuts that included routine performances
for the judging panel and a business interview, Purnell was
selected for the 2008 squad. She was officially notified when the
team was announced on the Cardinals’ website.

“It was amazing and overwhelming to find out I made the
team,” said Purnell.

She made her first official appearance last month at the Cardinals
season opener against the Miami Dolphins, participating in pregame
activities and performing during the course of the game.

In addition to her game day activities, Purnell enjoys the
opportunity to represent the team in the Phoenix community. She
developed her excitement for community work while on the Mountain
campus.

“We are only on the field for 10 games during the
year,” said Purnell, who started in ballet at the age of four
in Colorado. “Being a part of the Cardinals organization we
do a lot of charity events and promote the organization. It means a
lot. Starting out at NAU we did events like the Toys for Tots and
the Climb for Cancer. So that was very important to me to carry
that on in the Phoenix community.”

While her career with the Cardinals has included just one game,
Purnell hopes to one day lead her own NFL team. She has a great
mentor in Heather Karburg, who directed the NAU dance team for
three years and now serves as the director of the Cardinals
Cheerleaders.

“I knew Heather had started at NAU,” said Purnell.
“My aspiration would be to someday lead an NFL team. She
inspired me to want to try out. She had a great reputation at NAU
and I know she has done very well. To be able to be part of her
team was a dream come true.”

Current NAU Cheer and Dance Director Kevin Gemoets is proud of her
accomplishment.

“It shows the quality of the program we have at NAU,”
said Gemoets. “We expect a lot from the cheerleaders and
dancers as far as skills and professionalism.”

Purnell also hopes to pass on her passion.

“I would like to open my own dance studio and be able to
teach young girls and transfer my love for dance onto the next
generation,” said Purnell. “That would be
exciting.”